How To Install Fastfetch on Rocky Linux 9

In this tutorial, we will show you how to install Fastfetch on Rocky Linux 9. System administrators and Linux enthusiasts constantly seek efficient tools to monitor and display system information. Fastfetch emerges as a powerful, modern replacement for traditional system information utilities, offering superior performance and extensive customization capabilities. This comprehensive guide walks you through installing Fastfetch on Rocky Linux 9, ensuring you can harness its full potential for system monitoring and information display.

Rocky Linux 9 stands as a robust, enterprise-grade alternative to Red Hat Enterprise Linux, providing stability and reliability for production environments. When combined with Fastfetch’s lightning-fast system information retrieval, you create an optimal setup for both daily administration tasks and system showcasing. This article covers every aspect of the installation process, from basic setup to advanced configuration, ensuring you achieve a professional implementation.

What is Fastfetch and Why Choose It?

Understanding Fastfetch

Fastfetch represents a modern evolution in system information tools, designed as a high-performance alternative to traditional utilities like Neofetch. Written in C programming language, Fastfetch leverages POSIX threads to parallelize information gathering tasks, resulting in significantly faster execution times. The tool can be up to 10 times faster than Neofetch on some systems, making it ideal for frequent use or integration into shell startup scripts.

The application displays comprehensive system information including hardware specifications, operating system details, software versions, and environmental configurations. Its modular architecture allows users to selectively display specific information categories while maintaining optimal performance through intelligent caching mechanisms.

Advantages Over Alternatives

Fastfetch outperforms traditional alternatives through several key advantages. Unlike Neofetch, which has ceased active development, Fastfetch maintains active community support and regular updates. The performance differential becomes particularly noticeable when executing the tool repeatedly or incorporating it into automated workflows.

The modern JSON-based configuration system provides greater flexibility compared to older tools. This approach enables precise control over output formatting, module selection, and display customization. Additionally, Fastfetch offers superior hardware detection capabilities, accurately identifying modern components and providing detailed specifications that older tools might miss or misreport.

Prerequisites and System Requirements

System Requirements

Rocky Linux 9 compatibility ensures seamless integration with your existing infrastructure. The minimal hardware requirements include a 1.1 GHz processor, though faster processors enhance information gathering speed. Memory requirements remain modest, with 2 GB RAM sufficient for basic operations, though 4 GB provides optimal performance for comprehensive system analysis.

Administrative privileges through sudo access are essential for installation and configuration. Ensure your user account has appropriate permissions before proceeding. Internet connectivity is required for downloading packages and dependencies, whether using package managers or manual installation methods.

Pre-installation Checklist

Begin by updating your Rocky Linux 9 system to ensure compatibility and security. Execute the following command to refresh package lists and install available updates:

sudo dnf update -y

Verify that your system has access to standard repositories and consider enabling additional repositories like EPEL (Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux) for broader package availability. Check your internet connection and firewall settings to ensure successful package downloads during installation.

Installation Methods Overview

Available Installation Options

Rocky Linux 9 supports multiple Fastfetch installation approaches, each suited to different use cases and user preferences. The package manager method using DNF provides the simplest installation path with automatic dependency resolution. Manual RPM package installation offers more control over specific versions and installation timing.

Source code compilation delivers access to the latest features and customizations but requires additional development tools and compilation time. Third-party repositories may provide alternative versions or specialized builds, though these require careful verification for security and compatibility.

Choosing the Right Method

For production environments, the package manager approach offers optimal stability and integration with system update mechanisms. Development environments might benefit from source compilation to access cutting-edge features. Enterprise deployments should prioritize package manager installation for consistency and maintainability across multiple systems.

Primary Installation Guide: Package Manager Method

Step 1: System Preparation

Ensure your Rocky Linux 9 system is properly configured for package installation. Update the system package database and install any pending security updates:

sudo dnf clean all
sudo dnf update -y

Enable the EPEL repository to access additional packages that might be required as dependencies:

sudo dnf install epel-release -y

Verify repository configuration and network connectivity by testing package manager functionality:

sudo dnf repolist

Step 2: Installing Fastfetch via DNF

Search for available Fastfetch packages in the configured repositories:

sudo dnf search fastfetch

Install Fastfetch using the DNF package manager, which automatically handles dependency resolution:

sudo dnf install fastfetch -y

The installation process downloads the package and any required dependencies, configuring the system for immediate use. DNF ensures proper integration with your system’s package management infrastructure.

Step 3: Verification Process

Confirm successful installation by checking the installed version:

fastfetch --version

Execute a basic test run to verify functionality:

fastfetch

This command should display comprehensive system information in an organized, visually appealing format. If errors occur, review the troubleshooting section for common solutions.

Step 4: Post-installation Setup

Create shell aliases for convenient access. Add the following line to your .bashrc file:

echo "alias ff='fastfetch'" >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc

Consider adding Fastfetch to your shell startup script for automatic execution when opening new terminal sessions:

echo "fastfetch" >> ~/.bashrc

Alternative Installation: Manual RPM Package

Downloading the RPM Package

For users preferring manual installation or requiring specific versions, download the latest RPM package directly from the official repository. Navigate to the GitHub releases page and identify the appropriate package for your architecture:

wget https://github.com/fastfetch-cli/fastfetch/releases/latest/download/fastfetch-linux-amd64.rpm

Verify the downloaded package integrity using checksums provided on the release page. This step ensures file authenticity and prevents corruption-related issues during installation.

Installing the Downloaded Package

Use DNF to install the local RPM package, which automatically handles dependency resolution:

sudo dnf localinstall fastfetch-linux-amd64.rpm -y

Alternatively, use the rpm command for direct installation, though this approach requires manual dependency management:

sudo rpm -ivh fastfetch-linux-amd64.rpm

Monitor the installation process for any dependency warnings or conflicts that might require resolution.

Package Management Benefits

Manual RPM installation provides precise version control and enables installation in environments with limited internet access. The package integrates with your system’s package manager, allowing for proper tracking and future updates through standard mechanisms.

Initial Configuration and First Run

Running Fastfetch for the First Time

Execute Fastfetch using the simple command:

fastfetch

The default configuration displays essential system information including operating system details, kernel version, hardware specifications, and environmental settings. Observe the output format and information categories to understand the baseline configuration.

Basic Customization Options

Explore command-line options for immediate customization without creating configuration files:

fastfetch --logo arch
fastfetch --color blue
fastfetch --disable-linewrap

These options provide temporary modifications useful for testing different display preferences before implementing permanent configurations.

Advanced Configuration and Customization

Configuration File Structure

Generate a default configuration file to enable advanced customization:

fastfetch --gen-config

This creates a JSON configuration file at ~/.config/fastfetch/config.jsonc. The JSON format provides structured, hierarchical configuration management with support for comments and complex nested settings.

Customizing Display Elements

Edit the configuration file to modify displayed information modules:

nano ~/.config/fastfetch/config.jsonc

Add or remove modules by modifying the modules array:

{
    "modules": [
        "title",
        "separator",
        "os",
        "host",
        "kernel",
        "uptime",
        "packages",
        "shell",
        "resolution",
        "de",
        "wm",
        "wmtheme",
        "theme",
        "icons",
        "font",
        "cursor",
        "terminal",
        "terminalfont",
        "cpu",
        "gpu",
        "memory",
        "swap",
        "disk",
        "localip",
        "battery",
        "locale",
        "break",
        "colors"
    ]
}

Advanced Configuration Options

Implement performance optimizations and custom formatting:

{
    "display": {
        "separator": " -> ",
        "color": {
            "keys": "blue",
            "title": "red"
        }
    },
    "logo": {
        "source": "rocky",
        "color": {
            "1": "green",
            "2": "red"
        }
    }
}

Configure module-specific settings for detailed customization:

{
    "modules": {
        "cpu": {
            "format": "{1} ({3}) @ {7} GHz"
        },
        "memory": {
            "format": "{1} / {2} ({3})"
        }
    }
}

Creating Multiple Profiles

Develop different configuration profiles for various use cases:

fastfetch --gen-config ~/.config/fastfetch/minimal.jsonc
fastfetch --gen-config ~/.config/fastfetch/detailed.jsonc

Switch between profiles using the configuration flag:

fastfetch --config ~/.config/fastfetch/minimal.jsonc

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Installation Problems

If DNF cannot locate the Fastfetch package, verify repository configuration and internet connectivity. Enable additional repositories or consider manual RPM installation as alternatives.

For dependency conflicts, use the --allowerasing flag to allow DNF to resolve conflicts automatically:

sudo dnf install --allowerasing fastfetch

Permission errors typically indicate insufficient user privileges. Ensure your account has sudo access or contact your system administrator for assistance.

Runtime Issues

Hardware detection failures may occur with specialized or very new hardware components. Check for hardware-specific drivers and consider updating system firmware. Some modules may require additional packages for full functionality.

Display formatting problems often relate to terminal compatibility. Test with different terminal emulators or adjust display settings:

fastfetch --logo-type ascii --color-scheme default

Configuration Errors

JSON syntax errors prevent configuration loading. Validate your configuration file using online JSON validators or development tools. Common issues include missing commas, unmatched brackets, or invalid property names.

Reset to default configuration if problems persist:

rm ~/.config/fastfetch/config.jsonc
fastfetch --gen-config

Security Considerations

Security Best Practices

Run Fastfetch with minimal necessary privileges to reduce security exposure. The tool typically doesn’t require elevated permissions for standard information gathering, making it safe for regular user execution.

Configure file permissions appropriately for configuration directories:

chmod 750 ~/.config/fastfetch/
chmod 640 ~/.config/fastfetch/config.jsonc

Enterprise Security

Enterprise deployments should consider information disclosure implications. Some system information might be sensitive in certain environments. Review output carefully and configure modules appropriately for your security posture.

Implement centralized configuration management for consistent security policies across multiple systems. Use version control for configuration files to track changes and maintain security compliance.

Maintenance and Updates

Keeping Fastfetch Updated

Regular updates ensure access to latest features and security fixes. For package manager installations, include Fastfetch in routine system updates:

sudo dnf update fastfetch

Monitor release announcements for significant updates or security patches requiring immediate attention.

Best Practices

Maintain configuration backups before major updates:

cp ~/.config/fastfetch/config.jsonc ~/.config/fastfetch/config.jsonc.backup

Document custom configurations and deployment procedures for team environments. Consider automating deployment through configuration management tools for consistent enterprise implementations.

Test configurations in development environments before production deployment. This approach prevents disruption and ensures compatibility with existing systems.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Fastfetch. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing the Fastfetch on Rocky Linux 9 system. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the official Fastfetch website.